Description

J M Wardrop, 1880, probably incorporating earlier fabric;

alterations and restoration after fire (1937) by Reginald

Fairlie, 1938 (drawing room wing and entrance hall). Large

Scottish Baronial mansion, mainly 3 storeys and attic. All

tooled red sneck course ashlar with polished ashlar dressings.

Main entrance to right (E) of S elevation reached by shallow

flight steps at centre of large square tower rising 6 storeys

with flanking drum tower projecting at E. Corbelled and

crenellated wallhead with corbelled and canted oriel window

high in centre of S front of tower. Further 2-storey canted

bay window in lower block to left (W) of main entrance

adjoining 5-storey square tower at SW angle with further

corbelled attic storey and angle bartizans.

3-storey, 3-bay drawing room wing at E, with 1st floor drawing

room lit by 3 large windows in south elevation and served

by round-headed garden entrance in E gable leading to

balustraded flight steps. Heavy angle buttresses topped by

bartizans with conical roofs flank E gable and stairs.

Chapel wing at NW, on W gable, bell turret, rose window with

geometric tracery and apex cross.

Mainly multi-pane glazing to varied fenestration, with some

pedimented dormers rising from wallhead; corniced ridge

and end stacks; slate roofs; cast- and wrought iron weather

vane initialled SL. S and E fronts enclosed by high coped

walled garden, with wrought iron double gates at S and E

Service court at W enclosed by high crenellated wall entered

through round-headed archway topped by birdcage bellcote.

Interior; principal rooms on 1st floor; entrance hall with

stone staircase leading to 1st floor hall and landing from

which opens inner hall (in turn leading to chapel) and

drawing room. Drawing room with high, simple coved ceiling

with cornice, carved chimney piece and dado. Wide and shallow

principal staircase (polished wood) with turned wooden

balusters rises form 1st to 2nd floor. "Blue room" with

early 19th century white marble chimney piece with mantel

shelf supported by fluted shafts and with angle in carved

centre panel.

Chapel; at 1st floor rising 2 storeys in height and lit by

long pointed headed windows in N elevation. Entrance off

landing reached from inner hall and also by staircase direct

from north doorway. Pointed-headed entrance with double-leaf

plank doors. Carved white marble reredos and altar against W

gable; (liturgical E); reredos with outer and centre crocketted pinnacles flanking carved panels and supported by kneeling

angels. High timber ribbed ceiling; tripple pointed headed

entrances at NW under continous hoodmould leading to

sacristy.

Statement of Interest

Private Roman Catholic chapel, an ecclesiastical building in

use as such. Hereditory seat of the Frasers of Lovat. Present

mansion replaced (and may incorporate) "neat box" on site,

built to house factor of forfeited estate after the mansion

was burnt down in 1746. Remains of earlier Castle Downie

survive at SE, linked to drawing room wing by length of

walling.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Beaufort Castle at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q2757635

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
• 
  Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)